Morning.

Always a long hated feeling. But one with a much need as every other feeling. After the black eye incident, you took a few days off. Two, to be precise. But now that those free days were over, this morning specifically  was a dreaded one.

Wrapped in a blanket burrito, and eyes feeling sore from lack of sleep, you slept away from the world as best to your ability.

Alas, today was a school day, and your mother cracked the door open, hall light shining into your dark bedroom.

She waltzed in, flicking on the light switch in your room, "(Y/N). Time to wake up."

After waiting a moment and seeing no movement, she walked further in and grabbed the edge of your blanket. Giving it a tug, she started unraveling the blanket burrito, much to your chagrin. You rolled sluggishly to the side, trying to keep the blankets on yourself.

Your mothers strength versus your sleepy body proved stronger, leading to your blanket being stolen, and an uncomfortable coldness seeping into your body.

Shivering, you swept an arm to try to nab the blanket back, failing once again and finally opening your eyes.

"Come on- time for school." She started walking out of the room with your blankets, "I made you some toast."

After she left the room, you sat frozen on your bed awhile longer, still chilly feeling, before finally shuffling and rolling off the bed. Falling on the floor hurt a bit, but it helped you wake up.

Standing up, you started down the steps, trudging over them until reaching the bottom. Getting out of bed was no easy feat, and dragging your feet was simply a side effect.

Eventually, you reached the kitchen, noting the piece of toast stacked neatly onto a plate. Gently grabbing the edge of the toast and pulling it up, you give it a sniff before shoving it in your mouth whole.

Aye- you were hungry.

You stood there for a moment, looking over at the microwave for the time. You had time.

After food, you treaded back upstairs and to the bathroom.

You didn't feel like freshing up, but you knew you'd regret it later if you didn't.

_________________

Now in the car, you mother driving, you took a small moment to relax. Your eyes fluttered as you bounded between sleep, the hum of the car setting you in a calmer mood. It was nice being driven to school. No people's prying eyes, and social anxiety setting in. Just the calm, calm running engine.

"So. Did you make any friends?" Your mom chimed into your relaxed state of mind.

"Yeh." Was your simply reply.

She raised an eyebrow, keeping her eyes on the road, "Oh really-" A childish smile spread across her face, "Is it... A boy???"

"Yeh." You answered, to sleepy to realize what she was implying.

Her face died down at your dull response, returning to her normal mother face, "Okay, okay- spare me the details." She paused, "But you had fun right? Your friend was nice?"

You sleepily nodded and spoke at the same time, "Yeeee...."

She laughed, car coming to a stop at a red light, "OKaaay sleepyhead- stop dozing off." She rose her arm up and grabbed your shoulder, shaking it playfully, "If you doze off again, I'll have to drop you off on the road!"

You chuffed at her joke, giggling despite trying to maintain your sleepy attitude, "Haha~ Okay Mom- I don't need to go to military camp."

She covered her mouth, holding back a small laugh, "Ha-kfftpt...! Also, your hairs all messed up." She stopped messing with my shoulder, instead ruffing up your hair instead.

You hissed, swatting at her hands while trying not to laugh, "Staph it- I don't like it when you mess with my hair."

She stayed silent, a gentle smile on her face.

You stopped making noises too, watching intently as she swept a hair behind your ear.

"I love sweety, you know that, right?"

Blushing in shame- even though no one else was around- you looked away as you spoke, "I know mom..." You paused, "...Love ya too."

She continued to stroke your head, smiling all the while.

It wasn't until a beep from behind both of you brought you back down to reality. Your mom was driving you to school, and was at a red light. Correction. Green light. Another correction- your mom was speeding you to school, because dag nabbit! Sweet moments apparently take longer than you'd think, as you were borderline late for school at this very moment.

Your mom saw the time, AND the light taking off immediately after realizing this. After that, the whole road was a blur, turns and twist, stopping and starting- it almost  made you sick, but luckily you have a bit of an endurance in the stomach area.

______________

Rushing into school would be an understatement. After pulling into the parking lot, you took off into one of the fastest sprints you'd ever had, jamming yourself past the front doors and adopting an even faster leap into your run as you rushed to your classroom.

There was a chance someone would see you running, but you'd take that over being late.

Stopping in front of the classroom, you paused, taking a moment to compose yourself, before opening the door.

Miss Bell was already in there, brown eyes as doey as they were the day before, but the moment she saw your scabbing cut and still puffy eye, pity filled the tawny color.

"Oh- (Y/N)... are you feeling better now?" She asked, an almost motherly tone coming over her.

You nodded, pursing your lips awkwardly as you tried to keep her off the topic of how you were late.

She smiled, "That's good to hear." She paused muttering for a second, "Poor thing, being sick the first day and then getting beat up the next." She spoke up, " You may take your seat."

You ignored the few snobby laughs at your teachers caring demeanor towards you, deadpanning and walking to your seat- which- Jokes on you- had your seat partner already sitting there, politely not sitting in the seat you picked for yourself the day before.

After sitting down, you felt extremely awkward. Not scared- just utter awkwardness.

Still, you remembered from last time and made no movements to look your seat partner in the eyes. Not again. Despite how striking they are.

But even from here, your could tell how tensed he became the moment you sat down in your seat.

"Now that everyone is here, we'll go over roll call..."

Like last time, you started tuning Miss Bell out again, only this time, it wasn't as pleasant to do so. Rather than peaceful rest, you had become hyper aware of your seat partner, anticipating if he would attack again.

By the time she finally called your name out, you were fully woken up, eyeing your seat partner from the corner of your eye.

"Here." You spoke, head resting on your arms as you tried to relax.

Your seat partner hadn't yet calmed down, or in this case, stopped tensing. Either he wanted to punch you again, or he felt just as awkward as you did.

Either way things were going down hill, and after Miss Bell did all the routine things and gave the class their free time, the both of you sat there quietly, atmosphere so thick, inhaling was causing you trouble.

He coughed, lifting a hand up and muffling it as best he could. Coincidentally, you coughed a moment after, stifling it in rather the same manner he did.

A few minutes had passed in just the same as mentioned, awkward noises and tense bodies. So much so, that it was a shock when he spoke, the weird bubbling sound coming out first before he cleared his throat and tried again, "Soooo...." He paused, shutting his mouth entirely before starting again, "Your name's (Y/N)... right?" Rather than the whisper he used the first day, a bit of a gruff voice became know, still quiet, but bolder than the previous voice.

You nodded, "Yeah..." You paused, still aware of his body language from the corner of your eye, "Your... Ender... right? or something like that?"

A slight movement came from his shoulders, and you had a hard time figuring out what it was until he spoke again, amusement small under the awkward tension, but still faintly noticeable, "Endre, not Ender, but alright, I can see how you could get confused."

You still felt really awkward.

"Sorry." You said.

Endre paused again, "...No- no- there's no need for you to feel sorry." Sucking in a small breath he continued, "I actually started conversation to apologize."

You didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue.

"So... sorry for punching your face. Several times. In a row." He stopped talking, one of his fingers scratching the table restlessly.

Now that, my friends, brought a smile on your face. Albeit an awkward one, but still a smile.

He went out of his way to apologize for something he  did, that's another quality you don't see often in people.

"Your forgiven." You say, still smiling, "And I guess I'm sorry too for probably doing something out of your comfort zone." You stopped for a second, "That's why you attacked in the first place right?"

He hummed shyly, while you felt happy for guessing what was wrong in the first place.

After that, the conversation went stale again,  quiet setting back in over your shared desk. Students in the background still chatted quietly as white noise, pencils dropping and cloths shuffling also filing into that type of noise, but they weren't of matter.

Despite things still feeling rather tense and estranged between you and your seat partner,  it felt much better than the previous atmosphere. That bitter taste stuck between your teeth being washed of your mouth- instead, a more pleasant one replacing it.

Maybe things can be a bit more pleasant than you originally thought.

__________

Yaaaaay. Forgiveness.

Who's happy that there's more enderman time? Cause I literally don't know who is.

Unfortunately, don't expect all chapters after this to feature him though. This is one of the more slow burn stories, or at least I'm trying to make it that way, so he won't be suddenly trying to ask you out. (sorry for those who do like when that happens.)

But anyways, that really all- see you guys on the other side!